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Translation by Mary Jane Stephenson (April 2008)

A learned article appeared on "Congregationalism in Cardiff" in the Diwygiwr of October 1863 by Mr D. Jones, BA, the minister of the church at the time, and as it included the most comprehensive and most correct history to be had of the cause from the beginning until the end of Mr Jones' ministry, we include it here in its entirety.

" Our minds were led to do a little research into the history of Congregationalism in Cardiff with the jubilee meeting of the second Ebenezer, which was held a few weeks ago.There is no need for us to go further back than 1826, before Cardiff had a Congregational chapel in it. Even though there was not a Congregational church in the town, there were several strong Nonconformist churches, and the famous Christmas Evans was a minister for the Welsh Baptists. There was also a Presbyterian church where The Rev T. James was the minister, and from this sprung the first Congregational church. Of the few Congregationalists who lived in the town at the time, some were members at Groeswen and others in Trinity. These few of the faithful decided to join together and to start a Congregational church. Having decided to join together to begin a Congregational cause, the first thing to do was to find a convenient place to worship. They successfully found an old coach house for the rent of two shillings a week. That old coach house was situated at the side of an old anchorage. The church was opened there in March 1826. The first to preach in the coach house was the Rev Shadrach Davies from Maendy. Griffiths, Neath; Davies, Taihirion; Hughes, Groeswen and others were very kind to the weak cause through coming to preach occasionally; but in spite of every assistance and kindness by the ministers of the area the cause continued to be weak and frail. The lack of a convenient and comfortable place to worship and the lack of a permanent minister made it difficult for the little church to work in a successful way, as the influence of the Baptists, Methodists and others was already strong in the town.In connection with the coach house one circumstance happened to pass without notice. After furnishing it the debt was found to be 15 pounds which was a large sum to the few there. To give encourage and assist the poor flock Mr D. Richards (deacon) took 7 pounds 10 shillings of the debt himself, leaving the rest to the others. When the time came to pay, Mr Richards owed 7 pounds 10 shillings, the others could not add more then 5 pounds, leaving a shortfall of 2 pounds 10 shillings. They had to have the 2 pounds 10 shillings, and Mr Richards insisted it had to be found quickly, as the money had to be paid in.One afternoon, he sadly began to go to Canton to visit Mr Williams, Factory; on the way he called in to see Mr Williams' sister, who lived at the side of the road. He refused to sit down as he was in a great hurry to see Mr Williams. The 2 pounds 10 shillings was pressing greatly on his mind.. At this Mrs Williams decided, if it was the 2 pounds 10 shillings that was disturbing him so much, that he should not worry about it any more, and she said to him ' You must stay for tea, Mr Richard, sit down, do not worry about the 2 pounds 10 shillings, you will have it from me before you go.' The dear brother felt the words like 'cool waters for a thirsty soul'. Thus the first burden of the Congregational cause in Cardiff was lifted away; and without doubt Mr Richards was joyful that afternoon when the church was free from the 15 pounds debt, more than the day before, when he saw the jubilee of the second chapel

"Despite that they had a coach house, furnished and free from debt, despite that they had the best ministry of the country occasionally. it became perpetually more obvious that they had to have a more convenient place, a permanent ministry, before they could expect much more success. They could not get men to the coach house to prayer meetings and to listen to occasional preaching when there were convenient and handsome chapels of other denominations in the town, and with permanent, powerful ministry in them. In the summer of 1827 they went to search for a convenient place to build a chapel and for a suitable minister to pastor them in the Lord. A place was found for building outside the town on the site of the present chapel, Ebenezer, even though it is now in the centre of town, and they thought of the Rev L. Powell, Mynnydbach, to be a minister for them. When Mr Powell visited them he was shown where they were to build but, however, he advised them not to go to the expense at that time. On September 5th 1827 a call was given to Mr Powell, signed by William Richards, Daniel Richards, James Jacob, Samuel Rees, Evan Thomas and twenty-six others. Mr Powell agreed to their application, he moved about the middle of the month and when he arrived in Cardiff he found that the new chapel had just just begun. The desire of the small church for a convenient home was so great and everything advantageous and favourable for the minister that they could not delay even a day.There are now only three or four living now who know about the enormous troubles that they had in building that chapel; but through endeavour, and perseverance and the blessing of God, it was finished and called Ebenezer, the most suitable name that stood out for the little flock -' up to here the Lord supported us '. The opening meeting was held on December 3rd and 4th 1828. The occasion was led by the Revs. D. Jones, Llanharan; H. Owens, Aberavon; J. Lewis, Newport; J. Morris, Bridgend; James, Bristol: J. Hughes, Maendy; Walters (B.), Caerphilly; M. Jones, Varteg; Christmas Evans, (B.), Cardiff; D. Davies, New Inn; M. Jones, Merthyr; W. Jones (B.), Cardiff; J. Evans, Cymer; T. Thomas, Caerleon; R. Humphreys (W.), Cardiff; Hughes, Newport; T. Harries, Mynyddislwyn, and H. Morgan, Sammah. The chapel cost 840 pounds. If the debt on the coach house had been 15 pounds, what about 840 pounds. But the shepherd and his flock had been brave like those who see the Invisible One.

All Wales, particularly South Wales and extending into England, know the gathering talents of Mr Powell, Cardiff; in the meaning that here was a man who applied himself to take the care of a small church under the burden of so much debt. As a faithful manager he took his flair to the marketplace and the talent that was in him was not neglected. The first memory I have of Mr Powell is hearing him, at the end of a service in a big chapel in Glamorgan, put the case of Ebenezer, Cardiff, to the congregation in his own inimitable style. His concluding speech that time cannot be forgotten. He said ' I have something to say to you that had best be heard lest you have chicken for supper tonight; and here he is, Mr Jesus Christ in Cardiff gaol, and I have come here to ask you please to be so good as to help get him out.' By this he meant that his cause was in the way of a large debt. That speech was like that of hundreds of similar speeches that he did not make in vain. In March 1830 he went to London for the first time to collect , where he was received with much cheerfeulness and sympathy. He returned with full pockets and happy in spirit. As he himself has written the story of his travels and collecting journeys in his autobiography, it is unnecessary for me to go over them now. It is enough to say here, through the efforts of the church at home, and the efforts of Mr Powell away from home, they were successful in repaying the debt and after that to buy the land where it stands today.

The first music festival by the Congregationalists in Cardiff was held on the 25th and 26th April 1830 . I regret that I am unable to tell the reader who were the ministers who preached on that occasion. That gymanfa was beneficial in many ways.It killed a lot of criticism in the town against the Congregationalists, the denomination gained respect, it gave additional spirit and energy to the church and we were very confident that it was a balm to save many souls. In 1839 a very successful quarterly meeting was held here and on 13th and 14th October 1841, the town's first missionary meeting was held by the Congregationalists when the Rev N.M. Harry, London, was present as the representative of the society.. By this time we found that Congregationalism was beoming stronger, the few becoming many, the weak becoming a strong nation. Everything went on well and successfully until the year 1851. Then Mr Powell found signs both in body and in mind that his time of permanent ministry had come to a close, and that he, as a faithful servant, should take a rest at the end of his days. He gave up the official care of the church, but the church decided that he could not be without care through ensuring that he had 12 pounds a year for life and 2 pounds extra for occasional services, and even though there was no legal document to bind the church to carry out this decision, it has continued faithful to its promise; and Mr Powell remained quietly full of confident trust in their faithfulness to the end.

Now the church turned to look for a new pastor, The ballot fell on the Rev J.D. Williams, Bridgend. Mr Williams agreed to their application and he took charge of the church about June 1852. By this time the old chapel had become too small and too untidy to meet the demands of the town so it was decided to pull it down and build a bigger one. Around the end of the year the decision to act was made, the church and its congregation moved to the Town Hall where they were for about a year, until the new chapel was finished which cost 1,100 pounds. This time in a strange place was unpleasant and dangerous for the church until it returned home.But in spite of all difficulties the learned ability and preaching talent of Mr Williams succeeded, with God's blessing, not only to keep the past congregation but to increase it so that more returned to the new chapel than had gone out of the old. At the end of 1853, the new chapel was opened with quite a bit of pomp; five ministers preached in the service on the first afternoon. The practice of threes in the same service has continued for a long time, but we prefer three to five; keep us from this becoming a common custom in big meetings.

The four counties music festival was held here on June 25th and 26th 1856, and it will not be forgotten for a long time by the Welsh in Cardiff. According to all the evidence, this was one of the best music festivals ever held in Wales by any denomination. Mr Williams had the pleasure of seeing the will of God succeeding abundantly in his hand and, to all public signs, it could be thought that it was God's intention that he would be one of the great in Wales. But in his prime, when he was not yet 32 years old, we had an additional test of the true words of the psalmist ' Clouds and darkness are all about him'. Death wrestled like a giant in his constitution, and finished his task on Sunday afternoon October 26th. At this the country was disappointed in its expectations, the church was deprived of an able minister and the town of a preacher whose like had not been seen.The following week, he was buried in the graveyard at Groeswen and the Rev J. Davies, formerly of Aberaman, Mount Stuart, Cardiff, preached his funeral oration.The last time we saw him was on the afternoon of the burial of the late Rees, Groeswen, but little did he, or us, think that he would be the next of the brothers to go their to their rest, and that within six weeks. We are confident that it will not be long before we see a tombstone worthy of him and his friends on his grave.

As usual when deprived of a minister, for a little while Ebenezer depended on the kindness of ministers both near and far. At this time there was a feeling amongst some of the friends that there was a need to extend the tabernacle, lengthen the cords of the dwellings places and break out on the south and on the left. Then they energetically opposed the undertaking of building a chapel in Mount-stuart-square near to the side of the sea. In May 1858 the chapel was ready and the people who wished to leave Ebenezer left voluntarily to begin the new cause. They left peacefully. As the history of Mount-stuart has appeared in the Diwygiwr the month before, it is unnecessary for us to spend time repeating it, but you must allow for us to express our joy in the induction of our friend Mr Davies as the minister of Mount-stuart. As the church worked so splendidly before having a minister, doubtless great things will be done after having one, particularly after the one we had. Let us now return to the old church in Ebenezer. We left it deprived of a pastor. The Rev D. Jones, BA, Bethesda, Caernarfon, was invited to be the successor to Mr Williams, and he agreed to be the successor to Mr Williams because he had been his pupil , and he began his ministerial labours in July 1858. Because of the departure lately of our friends to Mount-stuart the number of the congregation was diminished, and necessarily the number in the church fell to 180. There was a change in the town's trade as well particularly in the building. The frenzied building came to an end like all at once and hundreds of stonemasons, carpenters etc had to leave the town and Ebenezer felt the effects of this as did other churches. But gradually the congregation increased and the church multiplied s othat now there are around 350, and 300 pounds of debt has been paid of the debt, except for around another 60 pounds for repairs etc. In order for the reader to have a faint idea of the unsettled nature of the population of Cardiff we note one fact.During the last five years Mr Jones has received about 400 members in Ebenezer, of these nearly 250 have left and of these 27 have died. In spite of this the congregation is more, and the church more numerous than ever, and Congregationalism is flourishing more and stronger and more hopeful as it grows older."

Mr Jones was here until 1865 when he received a call to Zoar, Merthyr and he moved there.After a while without a minister, the church gave an invitation to Mr John Morgan Evans, Treffgarne, Pembrokeshire and he started his ministry here at the beginning of 1867. His induction meeting was held on the first Sunday in March that year. Mr Evans took his work here seriously, and without delay began the task of restoring and repairing the chapel, and he made it much more handsome and convenient in every way.. The restoration cost 800 pounds. Also early in that year some members left and formed with their minister an orderly church in Canton; and as we have mentioned another branch went out to start a cause in the Docks before this. Mr Evans continues to labour here and the cause, in every meaning of the word, goes on comfortably, and all the members are " peaceful in their own midst". We do not know of any well-known persons who were in this church, except the few who have been mentioned before; but there have been many many faithful friends labouring with love remembered by God, and their names will never be forgotten by the church, and there are still some here who follow their faith and consider their results of their conduct.

After setting up the type of the history of Ebenezer, Cardiff, we received the following references:-

John Davies, MA, now of New Zealand, was raised to preach in 1855 and in 1867 Richard Howells went from here to the college at Brecon and he is now in a chapel at Burrows, Swansea. Daniel Evans has been a respected assistant preacher in this church for some years and John Williams, son of Mr R.R., Morfa, Monmouthshire, has begun to preach here lately. We remember with respect the names of Daniel Richards, Samuel and Walter Rees and Evan Griffiths, Wauntrodau, and who left 500 pounds in his will towards various religious societies and the first was counted as father of the cause. The 900 pounds of debt that went towards restoring the chapel has mostly been repaid, and the present signs are that it will not be long until the last penny is paid. The deacons of the church are at present: Asa Morgan, Daniel Evans, William Rees, Evan Walters, John Price and David Howells. The church is distinguished by its generosity and its peaceful spirit and there is a great devotion at present with the Sunday school and with the singing.

Bibliographical Notes:

LEWIS POWELL. He was born in Defynnog, Breconshire on December 27th 1788. Throughout his childhood he was taught to respect the Bible, to keep the Sabbath day, and to delight in the house of the Lord.When he was young he was received into the society of the saints in Brychgoed. He was soon urged to begin preaching. He received a call to Capel Isaac, Carmarthenshire, and he was ordained there in May 1813. After serving there for fourteen years he received a call from the young church that had been established in Cardiff and he decided to move there at once. After the chapel was built he organised collecting money to pay the debt incurred. In his day there was no one else to compare with him for collecting money. Mr Powell travelled through England and Wales to gather money together and he was able to take money from people who had never contributed a penny towards a chapel before. He continued to work in Cardiff until 1852 when he decided it was time to give up the ministry as he felt that his memory was beginning to fail but he remained in Cardiff for the rest of his life. The church was very kind to him. He would visit churches after giving up the ministry and wherever he went everyone was pleased to see him. His body, his countenance, his eyes and his dress would attract attention in a congregation of ten thousand and when he opened his lips to speak, his tone, his intonation, his accent and his sayings were so different to everone else. Mr Powell continued to preach for the rest of his life and on Saturday September 18th 1869 he left Cardiff in his usual state of health to go to Carmel, Bonvilston, on the Sunday. He preached on the Sunday morning with his customary energy. After dinner he went to the school in the afternoon and returning to the company of a number of little girls he gave each of them a penny for coming to the school saying afterwards that he himself was still richer than any of them. They each had a penny but he had two and his Father would meet his every need. Having said his final words he fell and died at once. He was taken to Cardiff and his body was laid to rest in Ebenezer graveyard and there was a huge crowd of grieving spectators watching his body laid to rest and fifty ministers of different denominations followed him to his last home.

JOHN DAVID WILLIAMS. He was born in the parish of Llanddeusant, Carmarthenshire in March 1823. When he was still young he moved to the district of Defynnog as an agricultural servant and he spent several years there. He was received as a member of Brychgoed, and at the beginning of his religious career he full of passion and noted on account of his tenderness and effectiveness in prayer. Before long he was urged to begin preaching and both he and Mr Davies, now of Cardiff, began together their career as preachers. John Williams moved to Ystradgynlais and from there he went to the school in Llanover, where there were a number of young men at the time being taught by Mr Llewellyn Powell. He had to borrow money from friends to pay for his education and for many years was repaying his debts. He applied to become a student at Homerton college, London, and came through many difficulties and succeeded in going there. He received financial help from his teacher Dr Pye Smith. John Williams wass noted for his cleanliness and tidiness of his clothes and person. While he was in London he was full of the spirit of preaching and when he came back to Wales, this spirit was richer than it was in England. At the beginning of 1848 he received a call to Bridgend and Coity where he was ordained in February. At once he went to work and decided to have a new chapel in Bridgend although there was a lot of opposition. His predecessor Mr Jones was very passive and conservative and some of the old people were unwilling to see a newly-appointed minister wanting to have everything new. But it was recognised in Bridgend that the old chapel was not worthy of the place. He was in Bridgend for four years when he moved to Ebenezer, Cardiff, where he laboured until his death. As soon as he was inducted John Williams thought about building a new chapel in place of the old and the church there was united with him. There were particular difficulties in the work of the church and with the minister's public debts in a populous town like Cardiff. He excelled at preaching and this was his best talent and it is a pity that he did not confine himself to that. He was not noted as an original thinker and he did not possess a great talent but his comprehension was wide and encompassing and he had a special ability to analyse and spread the truth and put it into a systematic order and through his explantions and and expositions he was not only learned but also interesting to listeners. Signs of feebleness and weakness appeared some months before his death, and he deteriorated gradually until the end of his journey on October 26th 1856 aged 33 years. He was buried at Groeswen where he lies with hosts of his brethren until the resurrection morn.

Translation by Mary Jane Stephenson (April 2008)

This chapel is in the valley of the Taff, about a mile south of Pontypridd and near to three miles to the north-west of Groeswen. It is probable that there was occasionalpreaching here by the Congregationalists from the time of Groeswen and Cymer. Soon after the induction of Mr Hughes in Groeswen he and Mr M. Jones of Cymer, would come and preach every month to Gwernygwerwyn. In the strong revivals and those blessed in Groeswen church in the years 1800 and 1817, some of the residents of Glyntaff were received into religious communion. As a resut of these revivals a branch of Groeswen church was formed in this area and it was called 'Glyntaff branch'.This branch would regularly hold a religious service every Sunday afternoon and evening in the house of Evan Morgan, Ynysrhydfelen. A Sunday school was held on each Sunday afternoon and preaching or a prayer service in the evening. Also they would hold a prayer meeting or religious friendship meeting every Thursday evening. Every Sunday morning they would go to Groeswen. Evan Morgan and hiswife were excsllnt people for their godliness and kindness. There house was home to the ark until the last of them were moved from the house. Religion still remains in the family. One of their sons is a deacon used in Glyntaff and another inthe same post in Efail Isaf. After they had spent many years meeting in Evan Morgan's house, it was decided to move around to other members' houses as they were called for, but the Sunday school and friendship meetings continued to be held in Evan Morgan's house while he and his wife lived. He died in 1837 and she died in 1842. At that time a dwelling house was rented on the condition that there would be religious services in it, and they were there for four years. With the opening of the Trefforest Alcam [tinplate] works, the population in the area greatly increasedm so it was deemed to be necessary to build a chapel. This was done in 1846. It was a fairly small chapel without a balcony in it. Tied to Groeswen at the start, this cause was in the care of Mr Rees, Groeswen, who was here until 1848, when the church decided to free itself from the mother-church and choose its own minister. Their choice descended on Mr David Davies, formerly of Taihirion, who was at the time in charge of the Welsh church at Caerodor. Mr Davies' term of office here was very short. He died within three years of his induction and after lingering nearly two or three years of suffering. There was no special progress or going backwards during the time of his ministry. The church behaved very kindly to him in his long time of suffering, especially that dear Christian lady Mrs Thomas, Ynysgau, who was a dear mother to the missionaries of Christ for around fifty years. In 1852, therewas an unanimous call to Mr David Stephens, Llanfairclydogau, who mresponded in the positive. He began his ministry here in October that year. There was great success in his work here. The chapel was extended to more than the original size and a handsome balcony was added to it. Some scores of people were added to the church especially in the revival of 1859 and 1860 so that there were around 170 before his death. At the beginning of 1861, the health of Mr Stephens began to deteriorate and to great grief andloss of the people in his care, and in the country generally, he died in May 1861 and was buried at the side of his predecessor Mr Davies by Glyntaff chapel. About the time of Mr Stephens' death, Mr Crawshay's works were established and this meant that scores of people left the area, and in their midst were many of the members of this church, which greatly weakened the cause.

In July 1863, the call was given to Mr John Griffiths, from Brecon college, and he was ordained here on 25th August in the same year. Mr Griffiths has been labouring in this field now for nearly nine years, and the signs are obvious that both God and men approve of his work. He too during the time of his ministry has had the pleasure of giving the right hand of fellowship to some scores of people here . There are around 135 in the church present. We do not know of anyone called to preach from this church except Mr Henry Jones, now of Ffaldybrenin, Carmarthenshire.

Biographical Notes (Not extracted fully)

DAVID DAVIES: He was born in the Horeb district of Carmarthenshire and he was received into membership at a very young age.

DAVID STEPHENS: He was born in Gurnos, Llanfynydd parish, Carmarthenshire, in March 1819.

Translation by Mary Jane Stephenson (April 2008)

This is the oldest Nonconformist place of worship in the town.Womanby Street is the name of the street where it is situated. Womanby is the old original name of the chapel. There were Nonconformists in this town very early. There is a document that says William Erbery, the vicar of St Mary's, was a zealous nonconformist and that he and his curate, William Cradock, had suffered for their nonconformity as early as 1633. Around 1640, or at the end of the previous year, Mr Erbery set up a Congregational church with his followers but in the time of the civil wars this church, like every nonconformist church in the land, was scattered and thrown into turmoil. After the restoration of Charles II and the dismissal of two thousand, Mr John French, a native of this town, was turned out of his parish church at Wenvoe and came to live here and follow his calling as a doctor. Also he would preach in his own house as suffering frequent perils of the times made him do. In May 1672 Mr French obtained a licence to preach in his own house. Perhaps some of the old members of the church formed by Mr Erbery in 1640 were still living in Cardiff in 1862 when Mr French came here, and as such, were part of the society that was formed here around this time. It appears that Mr French was the minister here until the end of his life in 1691, and it was in his house that services were held all through the years from 1662 until 1691. The first chapel was built here in 1696. The land for building was given by Sir John Thomas, Baronet, of Wenvoe, for the sum of five shillings and a penny a year, if it was asked for. The length of the lease was 999 years. The land was given to John Archer, Esq., Alderman of Cardiff. We consider that Mr Archer was a preacher, if not the minister, who followed Mr French. In 1712 a call was made for Mr Rice Protheroe, Llanfyllin, who ministered here until his death in 1733 or 1734. In 1718 Mr Archer gave the chapel and dwelling house in Angel Street, as well as sum of four hundred pounds in a deed over 970 years, to Rice Protheroe and others. In that deed it was stated that the rent of the house and the interest on the four hundred pounds was to pay the minister, but that a quarter of the interest on the money was to be shared amongst the poor of the congregation. The money at present totals 430 pounds, 5 shillings and 6 pence and has been put into three per cent consols in the names of the trustees of the chapel. It also stated in the document that when the number of trustees falls, through death, to three that others are chosen to make it up to six. In accordance with the deed, Messrs James Davies, Merthyr; Phillip Dafydd, Penmain, and David Williams, Pwllypant, were chosen as trustees and also Rees Protheroe before his death. In January 1750 Messrs Samuel Davies, Merthyr and Thomas Williams, Pwllypant were chosen as trustees. According to the deed that had been made in 1718 nobody could be a trustee without declaring himself to be a nonconformist at the time of being chosen. After the death of Mr Rice Protheroe, Mr David Williams, Pwllypant, near Caerphilly, was chosen to be the minister here. He was ordained in 1734 and was here until his death in 1784. He was followed in 1785 by the son of Thomas Williams, who after three years here, went to be a priest in the Established Church. Around the year 1788, or at the beginning of the following year, Mr William James was ordained here. He continued his ministry over a long period of fifty-six years. He died in February 1845.

It would appear that at the beginning this was an English-medium cause and there was never a large congregation at any period in its history. The ministers were respected and learned men but it would not appear that there was any religious liveliness except for a little while in the time of Mr David Williams. He was for the first seven or eight years of his ministry, a zealous nonconformist and full of the spirit of revival, and it is very likely that the people in his care felt a little of the fire that filled the spirit of their minister. But, unfortunately, the spirit cooled in Mr Williams after that, and it would appear that this cause, and that of Watford, deteriorated much in his later years and that things did not improve here during the three years that the son of Thomas Williams ministered in the place. Although Mr James preached a healthy doctrine, and he was an amiable and godly man, even so his ministry was not the kind to attract people to listen. On the whole his talents died away and there was nothing to excite notice and the tediousness in his preaching was difficult. It was common for him to preach for two hours without a pause. Therefore throughout his long life not many people came to listen but a few people and respected families continued to keep the cause while he lived. A short time before his death a new chapel was built. The old chapel was small and the new one is not very large either. The street where it is situated is not very suitable for a place of worship.

In July 1842, a call was given to Mr Abraham C. Simpson. Ll.D, as assistant to Mr James. Dr Simpson was here for two and a half years. He left in 1844. In 1845, after the death of Mr James, a call was given to Mr Thomas Carver and he was ordained here, but in a little over a year he was found to be following an immoral lifestyle, and he was thrown out. In February 1849 a call was given to Mr James James (Iago Emlyn) and he was here until March 1852, when he gave up his charge to move to Bristol. Mr James was followed by Mr Thomas Davies, the son of Mr W. Davies, Rhosycaerau. He began his ministry in May 1853 and moved to Putney, near London, in June 1857. In January 1858, a call was given to Mr Norman Glass and he moved from here to London in July 1860. In November of the same year a call was given to Mr Henry Chester and he continues to hold the post of minister at present. The cause here has been so weak and gloomy since the death of Mr W. James right up to the present time but while there is an endowment of about sixty pounds annually the door is kept open from year to year. Mr Chester said in a letter to us that things here are beginning to revive a little now and the number of hearers is slowly increasing.

Biographical Notes (Not extracted fully)

WILLIAM ERBURY, BA: If it would not be proper to consider him as the first minister of this church, he is worthy of notice in the history of Congregationalism in this town as, in all likelihood, he was the first Congragationalist who preached here. Mr Erbury was born in 1604 in Roath parish, near to this town............

JOHN FRENCH: He was a native of Cardiff. It would seem that he was brought up to be a doctor but, at the time of the Commonwealth, like many others he went to be a preacher. He was appointed to be a minister in Wenvoe, near Cardiff............

JOHN ARCHER: He was described in an old chapel document as a layman and an alderman but we have every reason to believe that he was a minister because his name is in the records of the Presbyterian Board in London as the minister of the Nonconformist church in Cardiff and he received money from the Board.............

RICE PROTHEROE: He was originally from Llandovery or its vicinity and we believe that he was the nephew or other relation of Mr Rees Prytherch, Ystrad Walter.

DAVID WILLIAMS: He was born in 1709 in Pwllypant near Caerphilly..............

THOMAS WILLIAMS: He was the son of Mr David Williams. He was educated at Carmarthen college...............

WILLIAM JAMES: He was born in Llanllwni, Carmarthenshire on Palm Sunday 1761................

Translation by Mary Jane Stephenson (April 2008)

There were prayer meetings and religious fellowship meetings held by members of Groeswen in the town decades before the building of a chapel and forming a church here.For years meetings were held in a little house near the castle walls where Lewis Edwards, a holy and zealous man, lived. After this, they would worship in an upstairs room in the Black Lion and when there was preaching the service was held in a downstairs room. It was called the great hall. The room was very wide but low and very dark.When Thomas Morgan improved the Black Lion he pulled down the old building and built a new one on the site, this time called the Clives Arms. After this new building was ready two of the most influential deacons from Groeswen, Messrs William Richards and William Lewis, happened to rent a room at five pounds a year to hold religious meetings. This was against the wishes of religious friends in the town and district as they wanted to build a chapel. But because these two deacons had so much influence and they were against building a chapel in Caerphilly, in case it damaged Groeswen, they were allowed to have their way. The upstairs room in the Clives Arms was opened as a place of worship at the end of May 1832 and there they worshipped until the end of September 1848 when Bethel chapel was opened. There were 45 members when they went to the upstairs room in the Clives Arms in 1832 and 70 when they went to the chapel in 1848. The people of Groeswen were greatly opposed to the building of the chapel and particularly that it was established as a Congregationalist church but Mr M. Rees, the minister, did his best with the cause while he lived. For a while after the chapel was built he would go to Groeswen every Sunday morning, and take Sunday school and preaching in the evening in Bethel, Caerphilly .In the end, the mother church at Groeswen grudgingly consented to the people of Caerphilly going where they wished. Then there were full services in Bethel all day. After the death of Mr Richards, Groeswen, the church in Caerphilly depended on occasional ministry until they gave an unanimous call to Mr David Richards, Llanelli, Brecon, who began his ministry here on June 29th 1862. His induction meeting was held on September 15th and 16th of the same year when Messrs E. Watkins, Llangatwg; W.C. Williams, Groeswen; E. Pritchard, Glandwr; W. Griffiths, Llanharan; D. Williams, Berea and others took part in the service. Mr Richards is here at present, respected and successful. We are confident that there are many years of service still before him. The chapel was re-built in 1866. It is now an extensive, handsome and convenient building. The Congregationalist cause would have suffered if there had not been a chapel and church here for over thirty years before. But in spite of every setback there is a sign that the Congregationalist cause in Caerphilly will be one of the strongest in the county within a few years.

The deacons here are John Rowlands, Thomas Anthony, Henry Anthony and Edmund Jones.

Translation by Mary Jane Stephenson (April 2008)

This church is a branch of Ebenezer, Glantaff. A number of members lived in Nantgarw and district, and as it was so far for them to go to Glantaff and the population of the area in which they lived was growing fast, they decided, with the agreement of Mr Stephens and the Glantaff church, to build a chapel and form a Congregationalist church. It was some time before the chapel was built, so religious services on week nights were held in John Jenkins' house. The chapel was built in 1859. It cost 300 pounds It is a handsome building with a balcony and a lovely graveyard outside. At the opening there was preaching by Messrs I. Stephens, Brychgoed; T. Rees, Cendle; J. Daviesw, Aberaman; H. Oliver, BA, Pontypridd and others. A little after the chapel opening Mr Stephen's health deteriorated, and so he did not have this young church for but a short year did he serve it as minister.After the death of Mr Stephens this church decided to have its own mi nister separately to Glantaff and therefor in 1861 a call was given to Mr Evan Pritchard, Tretower, Brecon. Mr Pritchard was here until the end of 1866 when he gave up the care of the place. On April 29th and 30th 1867 mMr B. Daviesm from Bala college, was ordained and he is the present minister. We are confident that he will continue to serve in this promising field for many years to come. This is a church with a shining and warm congregation. Here is buried the saintly, faithful Mrs Thomas, Ynysgau, who was very generous in her contributions towards the building of the chapel and the start of the cause. Even though her husband, the late Mr Morgan Thomas, was definitely not a religious man, out of great respect in memory of his wife gave the sum thirty pounds in the year to keep the ministry in Glandwr, on the condition that the minister and church keep the grave clean and paint it every year.

Translation by Mary Jane Stephenson (April 2008)

Several members of Ebenezer, namely Evan Giles, Dafydd William Dafydd and others had lived in Cwmdare for decades and prayer meetings were held reguglarly in houses. But there were not enough living in the Cwm for anybody to think of setting up a cause here before the coal mines opened. Through the efforts of Mr Edwards and Ebenezer church, a chapel was built here in 1859, and directly after the opening, letters were given to 50 members of Ebenezer releasing them to form a Congregational church. Soon after this, a call was given to Mr Abraham Mathews, from Bala college, and he was ordained as minister of this church, also in connection with the young church at Llwydcoed. His ordination was held in Ebenezer, central to both Cwmdare and Llwydcoed. In the year following his ordination, namely 1860, Mr Mathews gave up the care of Cwmdare and confined his ministry just to Llwydcoed. The first deacons here were R. Richards, Thomas Davies and John Lewis. After Mr Mathews left, the church was for about two years in the care of Mr H. Hughes, Tegai who would preach here one Sunday a month and would come to weekly meetings. The church weakened much at this time. After Mr Hughes gave up the place, a few members opposed their giving up and going back to the bosom of the mother church at Ebenezer. The church agreed with their view and Mr Edwards took over the care of the weak branch. He and the deacons of Ebenezer assisted until 1868. By now the cause has revived and is much stronger, and the call came to expand the chapel to its present size. Furthermore it was seen to be able enough to have its own minister, and the advice of the mother-church was to give a call to Mr D. Griffiths, from Brecon college, who was ordained here in 1869. He continues to be the minister in the place and the signs are that the Lord blesses his work. The present deacons are R. Richards, James Phillips, William Davies, George Edwards and David Evans. The chapel first cost 500 pounds to build and 450 pounds for the extension in 1868.

This cause is a fruitful result of the great revival of 1859 as with several other causes in this parish and other parts of this growing county. Ebenezer has been a tender mother to this cause. Besides the help of the congregation to pay the debt of the chapel, in Mr Mathews' time it would pay two pounds a month towards his ministry. There is a successful Sunday school and excellent choir and the children in the congregation have formed a Band of Hope.

The following have been raised from this church to preach:

Richard Jenkin, who is now in America.

W. Jones.

D.G. Evans, who is a student at Bala.

D. Gwilym, who is now at Carmarthen Grammar School.

The late David Richards, from Ebenezer, and Elias Maurice, from Bethesda, Merthyr, used to preach here each month for some years and were of great assistance to the cause.

Translation by Mary Jane Stephenson (April 2008)

This chapel is on the slope of Caerphilly Mountain, in the parish of Eglwysilan, within a mile of Caerphiily, on the side of the road that leads from that town to Cardiff. Watfordfaw is the name of the farm, on a part of which the chapel has been built. In some old documents the name has been written as Fotffordd, and it is very likely that the origin of the word is Bodffordd. As we noted in the history of Groeswen a Nonconformist place of worship had been kept regularly in the parish of Eglwysilan and neighbouring parishes, since the days of the Puritans but meetings were held from time to time until Watford chapel was built. In 1739 the first chapel was built here. A one thousand-year lease was given to the minister Mr David Williams, Pwllypant, for the land to build by Thomas Price, Esq.,of Watfordfawr and one of the members of the church, for the yearly rent of fifteen shillings. In 1740 Mr D. Williams gave up the place to his brother Thomas Williams and others as trustees. In 1797 after William Price, the son of Thomas Price the owner of the land, went bankrupt, the trustees bought their rights to the chapel and its graveyard and the houses belonging to the chapel for the sum of twenty pounds, and the congregation has freehold possession.

We have not been able to discover where the congregation worshipped before the chapel was built, but it was under the same ministry as Cardiff at least from the time Mr Rice Protheroe began his ministry and this continued until 1826 when Mr W. James confined his ministry to only Cardiff. There was a strong and rich congregation here before Groeswen was built and Mr D. Williams turned to Arminianism, but from that time there has not been the same prosperity here up to the present day. When the chapel was built, it was probable that some of the congregation lived on the southern side of the mountain, and the purpose of the house of worship was to served the residents of the upper parishes of Llanedyrn, Whitchurch etc as well as the inhabitants of the Caerphilly area, and so it was built in a central place, but now when places of worship have been built in every direction around it and more convenient for the people, this old place has been left uninhabited to some extent. It is unlikely that there is ever a large congregation as only a few people live near the chapel. There are endowments from twenty to twenty-five pounds annually left to this cause. In 1837 Mary Williams, daughter of the old minister Mr David Williams, left 300 pounds, interest that would keep a ministry here.

After Mr James gave this place up, Mr Daniel Davies, formerly of Ynysgau, preached here for some years but on his removal to Pontypridd, gave the place up. About 1831 or 1832, a call was given to Mr Lewis Roberts, from Neuaddlwyd college, and he was ordained here.After he had been here for six or seven years with great approval, there was a change in his circumstances and he took to drink so he had to leave the place. After that the cause was under the care of Mesrs E.C. Jenkins, Salem; Thomas Lloyd and J. Jones, Rudry, consecutively. Mr Thomas Jones was the minister here from 1852 until 1870, when he gave up the charge and moved from the area.Mr Jones was followed by Mr B. Davies, in connection with Glandwr, Glyntaff, and he is the present minister.

As has been mentioned, this was a lively, shining church and it is probable a very numerous congregation during the first ten years of Mr David Williams' ministry, and possibly during the time of his predecessor Mr Protheroe. It is likely enough that several members were raised to preach during this time but we cannot discover the names of any of them, except three and those who were mentioned in the history of Groeswen.

THOMAS MORGAN: His history is given in that of Henllan, Carmarthenshire, where he was a minister.

JOHN ROGERS: Rhosymeirch, Anglesey. His biography will be found in the history of that church.

DAVID MORGAN: In his day he was one of the most well-known literary figures in Europe and his name and a little of his history is in every Biographical Dictionary of note written in English that has been published since his death but, for some reason, in every one of them he was born in a village in Swansea but that is not true... (Not extracted fully)

Translation by Mary Jane Stephenson (April 2008)

The village of Eglwysnewydd, or Whitchurch, is situated within three miles of Cardiff on the main road to Merthyr Tydfil. It is called Eglwysnewydd after the parish. It is in a fruitful, beautiful lowland on the banks of the Taff. The city and Llandaff cathedral are within sight on the other side of the river. Before establishing a Congregational cause in the area, the Congregationalists would go to worship in Cardiff, Groeswen, Taihirion, Rudry, Watford, St Brides-super-Ely and to Bethlehem, Pentyrch. A Congegationalist cause was established not far from here in a farmhouse called Radyr by the late Mr D. Davies, St Brides-super-Ely, but that was given up years ago, as was mentioned in the history of Taihirion. The well-known G. Hughes, Groeswen, often preached in farmhouses in the district. In one of his journals, he preached in a farmhouse called Rhiwlynau in 1812 from Ephes. i.13 and again in August 1815. We heard that he also preached occasionally in Briwnant and other places in the area. He doubtless preached in Tanyrywen as Mr Lewis, father of Mrs George, was a zealous member at Groeswen.. Preaching took plaxe on Sunday afternoons in Tanyrywen. After this Mrs George joined the Baptists in Wauntreodau. The numbers of Congregationalists increased in the district and there was a great need for somewhere to worship, and because of the lack of a convenient place, some joined the Methodists. A family from the Pontypool area, Edward and Mary Daniel and their children, moved to this district and became members at Ebenezer, Cardiff. They were farmers and a serious family. Edward Daniel had been made a member in Penywaun, Monmouthshire, by Mr D. Davies on March 20th 1820. He moved from their to New Inn on September 5th 1823 and from there to Rudry and from there to Cardiff. Mrs Daniel, his wife, was received as a member of Heolyfelin, Newport in 1805 by Mr R. Davies. Mr Roger Roger, who had the ministry at Heolyfelin, Newport, was the brother of her grandmother, Joan Richards. They lived first in this district in a farm called Mynydd, after that in Wauntreodau and after that Tirhwnt in Llanishen parish - where their eldest daughter, Mary, and her husband, Thomas John, live at present. This family were at the forefront in establishing the Congregational cause in Whitchurch and their eldest daughter and her husband are faithful members there at present.

After much searching for somewhere to worship, a small house was successfully found in October 1848 which had formerly been a smithy, on the corner of three roads a little out of the village, at the rate of 4 pounds 10 shillings a year. Nantywathle is the name of the place, or Rhydywathle as it is often called .Some call it Nantrhydywathle.Perhaps it is a corruption of the name Gwaedle. If that is so the meaning is Nantygwaedle, Rhydygwadle and Nantrhydygwaedle. It is called that as a result of a battle and there was slaughter on this land between the a section of Cromwell's army and the army of Charles I. The former came from Cardiff and the latter from the direction of Caerphilly across the mountains and here they met in battle.Mr J. Ll. James, when he was in the area, found an old, large frying pan by the place lying deep in the earth and which had signs of great age. It is likely to have been there from that time. It would have been easy enoughfor it to sink deep as the place was a kind of bog in olden times. In the Trustdeed the place was called Nant-rhyd-Walter. The few Congregationalists in the area joined to begin the Nantrhydwathle cause in the little house, formerly a smithy, near the crystal stream that flowed by. Prayer meetings were held regularly on Sunday afternoons and on a night in the week and the first sermon was held here by Mr Jones, Rudry, on the afternoon of Christmas 1848. There was a Teaparty held here on Whitsun Tuesday 1849 and a public meeting in the evening; and from the profit accrued a pulpit and benches were made for the old house and also helped towards paying the rent. A church was formed here a year before a chapel was built, as far as persons living perhaps remember.The members who joined together were: Edward and Mary Daniel, from Ebenezer, Cardiff; William and Ann Brown, from Bethlehem, Pentyrch; Mary Roberts and children, namely Mary and William Roberts, from Bethlehem, Pentyrch; and Edward Roberts, from Watford. Soon after the start William Dafydd and his wife Martha, original members from St Brides-super-Ely, joined together with some others. Numbers were added slowly. On Sundays there was preaching at two o'clock and at six o'clock. If a preacher was not to be had a prayer meeting was held. A Sunday school was begun on Sunday mornings and religious services continued this way for years.William Brown and William Dafydd were chosen as deacons. In the beginning there was often preaching by Mr Jones, Rudry, and others in the district.The ministry care was under Mr Jones, Rudry, who was also ther minister at Bethlehem. They obtained a place to build a chapel at the side of the house where they worshipped, and also a small graveyard, from the small landowner, William Howell, with a lease of 999 years and the annual rent of twenty pounds. An appeal for contributions was signed by J. Jones, the minister; Edward Daniel and William Russell, deacons on March 26th 1851. All they collected was 38 pounds. The chapel cost about 138 pounds. The lease was dated November 15th 1850. The chapel was publicly opened on Whit Tuesday 1851. In time Mr Jones gave up the care of the ministry and he was followed by Mr William Russell, who had been ordained at Machen. He was here in connection with St Brides until he suffered a stroke on August 9th 1857 which made him incapable of being able to undertake his ministry. In October 1859 a religious revival began in the area. It was very powerful in parts of Glamorgan, and although it was not as strong in Eglwysnewydd, yet it affected all the churches to some degree. At this time Mr John Lloyd James, from Carmarthen college, came to the district and after an examination a call was given to him. He was ordained on February 2nd 1860. Mr D. Jones, BA, Cardiff, preached on the nature of the church; questions were asked by Mr W. Griffiths, Llanharan; the ordination prayer was offered by Mr J. Jones, Pentyrch; Proff. Morgan, Carmarthen, preached to the minister and Mr J. Davies, Aberaman preached to the church. When Mr James began his ministry there were 50 people taking communion at Eglwysnewydd. There was a good congregation of young people and a flourishing Sunday school here. It was decided to extend, restore and beautify the chapel. On September 4th 1860 an estimate was received from Mr John Emmanuel, Llanishen, for the sum of 210 pounds. The chapel was finished and Mr James preached in it for the first time on March 3rd 1861.The public opening was on April 28th. Because of the increasing number of people in the area of the College work, and the distance to Beulah, it was decided to start a cause in Llandaff Yard. An upstairs room was leased at the side of the Merthyr to Cardiff canal near the Cow and Snuffers. A Sunday school was started there and preaching in Welsh and English, but because of of the chief work on which the people depended, this venture was given up. Mr John Phillips, moving to the district was a great acquisition for the church and he is a useful deacon in the place. In October 1869 Mr J. Ll. James decided to leave in order to take the care of the English church in Capel Ivor, Dowlais. He preached for the last time in Eglwysnewydd on Sunday night October 10th. With the departure of Mr J. Ll. James the work of the College re-started. A Sunday school has started there and because land can be got in a convenient place, doubtless there will be a cause there soon. When Mr James left the chapel was more than 151 pounds in debt but by now this has been paid besides much repair done to it. The church has given a call to Mr William Meurig Rees, a student at Brecon, and it is intended to hold his ordination meetings on July 4th this year (1872). There are 56 members, the congregation about 150 and the two schools 110. There are promising forecasts before Mr Rees at the start of his ministry here.